Castles

Presidential Castle in Wisła

In the Wisła Czarne district, by Lake Czerniańskie, stands a castle built in 1929–1931 to a design by Adolf Szyszko-Bohusz — a gift from the people of Silesia to President Ignacy Mościcki, handed over in 1931 together with honorary citizenship of Wisła. The architect gave it the form of a medieval stronghold, which explains the name.

A castle with a history

During the Second World War the castle served as a retreat for officials of the Third Reich; after the war it housed the Council of Ministers, and later miners. Since 2002 it has again been a residence of Poland's heads of state — a comprehensive renovation was initiated by President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. Today it is the Historic Residence of the Presidents of the Republic of Poland.

A chapel from the Habsburgs

The castle was raised on the site of a burned wooden hunting lodge of the Habsburgs; the only surviving element of that estate is the wooden chapel of 1909 in the alpine style, standing within the complex.

Practical

The Lower Castle and the Gajówka lodge are open to tourists, and a viewing terrace with binoculars has been set along the southern wall of the Lower Castle. Lake Czerniańskie is 600 m away and the waterfall on the Wisełka about 2 km — a perfect spot for a half-day trip.